Roscow Clough

A small clough carrying a tributary of the Dean Brook and surrounded by ancient woodland.

The area around the lower part of this wooded valley and the section of the Dean Brook confluence was once known as Roscow Caythers, presumably a personal name. The farm further up the hill is now Roscoe’s Tenement and the top part of the clough further up the hill takes on that name.

This, from Easter 1721:

‘Two justices of the peace made an order to one Green, his wife and seven children from the parish of Horewood to the parish of Brickhill which order was confirmed on an appeal to the sessions both the said orders being removed into this court certiorari the case appeared to be thus.

This Green being a poor man lived at Horewood a place called Roscoe’s Tenement and paid taxes by the name of the occupier of Roscoe’s and for reason he his wife and children were sent thither. The court was moved to quash these orders this man ought to be personally charged to pay taxes otherwise he gains no settlement by paying them as of a tenement though he was charged as a farmer thereof at that time for word farmer does not prove him to be occupant because he may let the tenement over to another.

But on the other side it was insisted that taxes by the name of occupant of Roscoe’s tenement and naming him farmer of the same at that time a sufficient designation of the person to gain a settlement there and the court being of that opinion these orders were quashed. - Vide Mod Rep vol 8 page 38.’

Created: 1  May  2021  Edited: 29  November  2023